Christmas in the Park

04 December 2020 / Story - Brian Clayton: Photos - Anda Clayton, Bill Short

South Coast Chapter Xmas Party

1-2 December, 2020

After an extremely hot and windy weekend, Tuesday morning proved to be a lovely warm late spring morning, even if a little breezy.

We arrived at Lions Park, Burrill Lake, to set up our picnic lunch only to find that half of the party shed was occupied by a group from the caravan park who had got in early and grabbed half the tables. This facility is vacant most of the year, just our luck that a group of tourists (lovely people actually) had discovered what a lovely place this is for a group picnic.

Undeterred we set up the remaining tables and two outside for our expected group of MX5ers.

At the appointed hour our group started to gather and we welcomed visitors from Sydney, Illawarra and Canberra chapters, great people who settled in well with our South Coast regulars. Soon the call “a table” was made and the group commenced to demolish a typical Xmas spread; prawns fresh from the ocean, sliced ham and turkey, smoked salmon with lime, dill and caper berries, beautifully prepared and presented salads.

After the main course came the inevitable speech and the convenors thanked the support our chapter had received from the Illawarra chapter at its foundation, in particular Jan and Gary Gibson, Wes and Lena Hill and Bryan Shedden. They also noted that a number of members of Illawarra had continued to support the chapter by contributing to our events, none more that Jan and Bill Short, who were awarded honorary membership of the South Coast chapter and presented with a survival pack to assist in their long-distance travel to future South Coast events. Even “Rusty” the chapter mascot received a gift of a doggy toy.

The convenors thanked the many members of the chapter who had shown their support through a very trying year, by attending the limited club events, taking photos and writing trip reports, and planning and leading runs. The trophy for Member Of The Year was awarded to Anne Zattera, a popular and enthusiastic member of our group.

Next on the agenda was dessert and time for more conversation.

Tragically, some idiot backed his ute across the road until progress was halted by our Canberra visitors’ lovely ND. His fast departure from the scene only enabled us to capture the first part of his number plate but it is hoped this is enough for the authorities to take action.

Fully sated the group started to disperse but lunch is never enough for the South Coast chapter and a number of us, with Sydney and Illawarra friends coming along, headed for Kioloa for an overnight stay in preparation for Brian’s Big BBQ Breakfast. Lunch ensured that no-one was particularly hungry and the afternoon was spent with a beer, a glass of wine and some cheese and bickies. A game of “Finska” was indulged in by some, providing much amusement to both participants and spectators.

Anda arrived with the leftover prawns (still on ice) and some salads for an evening snack, before the mozzies told us it was bed time.

Morning broke with cloudy and cool conditions but even the threat posed by a few rain drops did not deter the group from indulging in the bacon, eggs, chipolatas, mushrooms and roasted tomatoes, the usual fare of Brian’s Big BBQ Breakfast, all washed down with fruit juice, coffee and tea.

And then it was time for final farewells and a solemn vow to do it again next year.

Thank you to all our friends for their help and assistance in making this a great Xmas party.